‘Big Hero 6’ triumphs over ‘Interstellar’ at the box office

The opening weekend success of “Big Hero 6” marks another hit for Disney Animation Studios, alongside “Frozen” and “Wreck-It Ralph,” as it tries to establish a reputation in computer animation outside of the wondrous works of Pixar.

The family film, which is inspired by characters from the Marvel comics, follows the developing friendship between robotics prodigy Hiro Hamada and his inflatable robot companion, Baymax. When an unknown enemy threatens San Fransokyo, Hiro transforms himself, Baymax and his thrill-seeking friends into a group of high-tech heroes in order to protect their home.

As expected, the film attracted viewers of all ages, ultimately giving it the edge over its main competitor “Interstellar,” which appealed more to the 25 and up crowd. Although the sci-fi epic performed respectably at the box office domestically, it fell short of Paramount’s projections of $50 million-$55 million.

The film was directed and written by Christopher Nolan (“The Dark Knight,” “Inception”) and exhibits the type of sophistication that his films are known for. Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway star as space explorers tasked with finding a future for mankind in distant galaxies.

Both films were ambitious undertakings, costing $165 million to produce apiece. In order for the studios to gain a profit, they have to attract international audiences as well.

“Interstellar” opened in 62 markets internationally, grossing $82.9 million and bringing the worldwide total $132.6 million. Disney opted for a more deliberate approach for “Big Hero 6,” premiering in only 17 international markets for $23 million (worldwide total of $79 million).

The top five was rounded out by three holdovers: “Gone Girl” ($6.2 million), “Ouija” ($5.9 million) and “Fury” ($5.6 million).

Fox’s “Gone Girl” has now been in theaters for 38 days and is only $4.5 million away from the $150 million threshold domestically. “Fury” is closing in on the $70 million mark after earning $69.4 million in 24 days,

Did you catch any of the big premieres this weekend? If so, what did you think about the movie(s)? Let us know in the comment section.